Abstract
The main purpose of this study was to identify the relationship of self efficacy and social support to the
psychosocial adjustment in people with epilepsy.
Data were collected from October 1 to October 15, 1999 from 101 people with epilepsy who were being
treated regularly at one of the university hospitals located in Seoul.
The research instruments were a questionnaire to gather demographic and disease-specific data, the Epilepsy
Psycho- Social Effects Scale developed by Chaplin et al(1990), the Epilepsy Self Efficacy Scale developed by
DiIorio et al(1992a) and translated by Park(1999), the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire developed by
Norbeck et al(1981) and translated by Oh(1985).
Data were analyzed using the SPSS program.
The results are as follow :
1. Of the 14 psychosocial adjustment areas, 75 of 101 subjects experienced problems in ten or more
areas and 28 in all 14 areas. The severity of the psychosocial adjustment problem was moderate
or more in six areas.
2. The score for self efficacy was an average of 1103.86 out of a possible 1800, for social support
117.57 for total functional out of a possible 720, and 48.21 for total network out of a possible
264. There were an average of five people on the network. The main network people were parents,
brothers and sisters, spouse, friends.
3. Of the 14 psychosocial adjustment areas, six areas correlated with self efficacy and 'problems with
taking medication' area had a negative correlation with social support.
In conclusion, people with epilepsy have various problems in psychosocial adjustment. Nursing interventions
using self efficacy should be developed to improve psychosocial adjustment in people with epilepsy. Also,
instruments and interventions for regimen-specific supports which are suitable for epilepsy should be developed.